Namdrol,Is the Shang Shung Institute's online Tibetan Medicine school up and running yet? It seems that they said they'd have info by September of last year, but I still don't see anything. I'm planning on applying for the full 4-year program. Do you have any info or advice?

JinpaRangdrol wrote:Namdrol,Is the Shang Shung Institute's online Tibetan Medicine school up and running yet? It seems that they said they'd have info by September of last year, but I still don't see anything. I'm planning on applying for the full 4-year program. Do you have any info or advice?

I am pretty sure that it is.

You ought to contact Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo and find out from her directly.

AdmiralJim wrote:How much does it cost? I have often wondered what the benefits of a dual qualification in western and tibetan medicine would be.

I think the benefits would be enormous.

I did a 3 year full time BSc degree in Ayurvedic medicine at Middlesex University and can legally do very little with it apart from a bit of bodywork and offering a bit of 'lifestyle' and nutritional advice. Had I paid another £5000 to do the one year masters degree afterwards i would, for the timebeing at least, be able to prescribe some simple herbs like amalaki, but to be honest most of the traditional ayurvedic (and i'm presuming tibetan) formulae contain at least one ingredient that is banned by the EU. So there is the problem of a severley restricted pharmocopeia.

Also considering the impracticality of intense residential panchakarma treatment retreats in the UK (due to cost, time etc) that traditionally important method of treatment, or crucial part of a lot of treatment protocols, is difficult for people to undergo.

I had a strong feeling while studying, and as it became apparent what we would and would not be able to do in practice on completion of the degree, that a qualification in western medicine and the ability to practice as a GP would be a perfect position for integrating ayurvedic or tibetan medicine into a practice. I actually looked into then training in western medicine as a postgraduate but the logistics of it all (my age, time, cost) put me off.

I truly believe combination of western medical scientific development with Ayurvedic/Tibetan medical theory, such as a working knowledge of the doshas, dhatus etc, would provide an excellent base for a medical practice. I am not trained in western medicine though, so I can't back that up with experience.

I think if I had my time again, I would train as a western medical doctor then study Tibetan/Ayurvedic medicine. Definitely.

Wesley1982 wrote:Tibetan medicine institute is very interesting but its more realistic to contribute undertstanding to the -Western Approach-

~ especially in the field of psychiatry.

Why? What good does a psychiatrist do for a person in most cases?They for the most part just prescribe drugs, as is common in the west for most anything, instead of helping to find the true answer to the problem.I have read that in the Eastern cultures psychiatry is basically non-existent.I believe Lama Yeshe said that for one to calm/subdue mental issues, one needs to find the cause in themselves. Through meditation, first calming the mind, then through more meditation finding the truth of their own mind.

Not drugging a person into the "form" society deems "proper".

Kindest wishes, Dave

Everyday problems teach us to have a realistic attitude.They teach us that life is what life is; flawed.Yet with tremendous potential for joy and fulfillment.~Lama Surya Das~

If your path teaches you to act and exert yourself correctly and leads to spiritual realizations such as love, compassion and wisdom then obviously it's worthwhile.~Lama Thubten Yeshe~

One whose mind is freed does not argue with anyone, he does not dispute with anyone. He makes use of the conventional terms of the world without clinging to them~The Buddha~

[quoteWhy? What good does a psychiatrist do for a person in most cases?They for the most part just prescribe drugs, as is common in the west for most anything, instead of helping to find the true answer to the problem.I have read that in the Eastern cultures psychiatry is basically non-existent.I believe Lama Yeshe said that for one to calm/subdue mental issues, one needs to find the cause in themselves. Through meditation, first calming the mind, then through more meditation finding the truth of their own mind.

Not drugging a person into the "form" society deems "proper".

Kindest wishes, Dave][/quote]

You need to read more about western psychiatry, most mental illness is caused by a pathological mechanism - which needs drug treatment. Of course things like meditation may help someone keep well by reducing stress triggers but if a patient was diabetic there would be no question about giving drug treatment yet with mental illness people treat it differently why? The monoamine theory of depression and dopamine over-activity in schizophrenia is a physical brain disorder, not treating with sensible medications based on this pathology is stupid. The reason psychiatry doesn't exist in the east is because it is taboo, not because there is no mental illness.

I respect your reply on this. Alsp I never said there wasn't mental illness in the east.But many "disorders" are over medicated in western scociety.Yes there are some things that need to be medicated there is no doubt in that.Many problems both physical and mental can be overcome without pharmicuticals.

Kindest wishes, Dave

Everyday problems teach us to have a realistic attitude.They teach us that life is what life is; flawed.Yet with tremendous potential for joy and fulfillment.~Lama Surya Das~

If your path teaches you to act and exert yourself correctly and leads to spiritual realizations such as love, compassion and wisdom then obviously it's worthwhile.~Lama Thubten Yeshe~

One whose mind is freed does not argue with anyone, he does not dispute with anyone. He makes use of the conventional terms of the world without clinging to them~The Buddha~

AdmiralJim wrote:You need to read more about western psychiatry, most mental illness is caused by a pathological mechanism - which needs drug treatment. Of course things like meditation may help someone keep well by reducing stress triggers but if a patient was diabetic there would be no question about giving drug treatment yet with mental illness people treat it differently why?

Many "mental illnesses" are caused by chemicals introduced through the food/environment. Causing an imbalance in the bodies natural "chemical" makeup. Autism for example, has been proven in many cases caused by vaccinations in children. True some are genetically based. Also in the west pharmaceutical companies hand out drugs to doctors and sometimes the doctors are given kick backs for prescribing these medications. That at times cause problems, both mental and physical. If one looks at statistics, most mental and serious physical illnesses have become ramped in the past 15-20 years. Is this by chance or because of the use of chemicals which are "better" for the body? Also look at how many class action law suits are there against pharmaceutical companies for the next greatest drug to screw you up.Also diabetes can easily be cured through natural means, one being a proper diet and much less processed food. Which is also the cause of obesity and many other physical/mental disorders. Our society has become more lazy and in too much of a rush so it is much easier to get into the "fast food" rut than to worry about a sit down healthy meal.

Kindest wishes, Dave

Everyday problems teach us to have a realistic attitude.They teach us that life is what life is; flawed.Yet with tremendous potential for joy and fulfillment.~Lama Surya Das~

If your path teaches you to act and exert yourself correctly and leads to spiritual realizations such as love, compassion and wisdom then obviously it's worthwhile.~Lama Thubten Yeshe~

One whose mind is freed does not argue with anyone, he does not dispute with anyone. He makes use of the conventional terms of the world without clinging to them~The Buddha~